Pepin of Vermandois

Count Pepin of Vermandois (2 January 636-16 December 714) was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia from 680 to 714 (succeeding Wulfoald and preceding Theudoald), Mayor of the Palace of Neustria from 687 to 695 (succeeding Berthar and preceding Grimoald), Mayor of the Palace of Burgundy from 687 to 695 (preceding Drogo), and Duke and Prince of the Franks from 687 to 714 (preceding Charles Martel).

Biography
Count Pepin of Vermandois was born in 636, the son of powerful statesman Ansegisel Karling and Begga. Pepin worked to establish his family, the Arnulfings, as the strongest in Francia. In 680 he became Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia, and he embarked on several wars to expand his power. In 687 he conquered Neustria and Burgundy, uniting all of the Frankish realms. He subjugated the Alemanni, Frisians, and Franconians, and he began to evangelize Germany. He chose his grandson Theudoald as his successor, but his illegitimate son Charles Martel refused to accept this, leading to a civil war after Pepin's death.